HUNDREDS of parents and children from across Sussex gathered yesterday to protest against cuts to vital special needs services run by councils.

It is evident many mums and dads are very unhappy with the way children with special needs have been treated. They should be listened to and their stories told.

Some are spending thousands on court tribunals to get the proper support for their children, while others are taking their children out of school to tutor them privately because they say they are not being provided for.

It is a testament to those parents that they are willing to do whatever it takes for their children so they get the support they deserve.

But they should not have to go to those lengths just so their children are provided with the proper facilities.

Of course, this is not the fault of councils. After years of cuts from central Government, as well as councils being told they need to take on more responsibility, they are struggling to spend what is needed on these essential services. This means authorities such as East Sussex County Council become more reliant on money they collect locally from council tax, business rates and parking charges.

Raising these always proves unpopular because it puts an extra financial burden on families who are already struggling for money.

So most councils are stuck between a rock and a hard place. The only way they can be bailed out is with more cash from the Government, but this does not look likely.

Hopefully this crisis in special needs funding will be resolved soon, but a lot of action – and money – will be needed to do so.